Count Meath publican Andrew Cassidy has really gotten into the spirit of things this Christmas by recording a festive song and getting some of his regulars to appear in a music video for it.
Music fan Andrew Cassidy runs Boyles of Slane, which is considered to be one of the best live venues in the county and has even scooped a Hot Press award.
Andrew has been involved in the music business for 25 years in one capacity or another and is thrilled to have finally achieved his long held dream of recording a single with his new Christmas tune called ‘Lucky Stars’.
He tells Hot Press: “I actually wrote the music for the song way back in June, but it wasn't until November that the inspiration of the festive season inspired me to writing the lyrics.”
The fun music video in which Andrew and his regulars are dressed up like Santa and his little helpers has already racked up over 20,000 hits and counting on YouTube.
“They are all locals in the video. I am lucky that there are some really talented musicians in the village of Slane,"Andrew says.
Andrew, who goes under the stage name of Cas, has been at the helm of Boyles of Slane since 2008 – but he’s now planning to hang up his publican’s apron to focus on his fledging music and writing career.
“My days pulling pints come to an end this New Years Eve," he says.
“Despite being kept very busy with the life of a publican and promoting I have always found time to write and play music.
“Timing and life postponed any release until now. I just thought that seen as I am leaving the bar trade it would be good to get a head start before releasing a lot of songs in 2018.”
The 42-year-old is already planning to drop his next song early in the New Year.
“I release my second single, ‘Sapphires’ at the end of January. It has always been an ambition of mine to record an album – so hopefully 2018 will be the year to achieve that," he tells us.
Andrew has pulled pints for many big stars that have dropped by his pub on their way to concerts at Slane Castle.
“We have been blessed with the big names that have popped into Boyles," he tells Hot Press.
“The list is long – from Bon Jovi, Hazel O'Connor, Glen Hansard, Finbar Furey to Paul Heaton. It goes on and on.”
Andrew once even managed to twist the arm of Paul Heaton of The Housemartins and The Beautiful South fame to play an impromptu gig for his locals.
“Indeed the visit of Paul Heaton was one of the finest days in Boyles," he says. “When I first took over the pub I set myself a goal to land one of my childhood music idols.
“I grew up loving The Housemartins and The Beautiful South particularly the lyrics of Paul Heaton.
“Eventually, I made contact with him and after informing him of my campaign to get him to bring and his band to our local, he eventually relented.
“He played the most amazing set to only 90 people in Boyles the night before he had sold out The Olympia!”
Who knows, now that he’s finally chasing his dream of becoming a big star, maybe it won’t be too far down the road before Andrew finds himself playing the like of The Olympia too.
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